Vapor-burner.



110.7%,603. PATENTED APR: 5,1904,

F.F.DOW VAPOR BURNER.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 4. 1901.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES,

Patented April 5, 1904.

FRED DOT/V, OF FREDERIGTON, CANADA.

VAPOR-BURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 756,603, dated April 5,1904.

Application filed February 4, 1901. Serial No. 45,889- (No model.)

To all iuhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED F. Dow, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fredericton, in the county of York, New Brunswick, Canada,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vapor-Burners, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The general object of the invention is to produce a novel and improvedlamp or burner consuming liquid or hydrocarbon fuel which shall becapable of effecting complete and perfect combustion of the fuel usedtherein and of securing the maximum effect for either lighting orheating purposes.

One special aim of the invention is to produce a simple, practical, andsafe lamp or burner in which the oil supplied for fuel shall first beconverted into gas or vapor, then mixed with a supply of air ample toinsure absolutely perfect combustion, so that there shall be an entireabsence of smell and of deposit from the flame, and the mixture of airand gas or vapor shall be raised to and maintained at a high temperatureand be delivered at the burner in the best state for consumption,whereby the efliciency and economy of the burner are enhanced, since theamount of heat required to be expended at the burner in raising themixture to the temperature at which combustion occurs is minimized.

Another special aim of the invention is to produce a lamp or burnerparticularly adapted for the consumption of kerosene in the ordinarycommercial condition of the latter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in elevation a lamp embodying thefeatures of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof with themantle and mantle-support removed. Fig. 3 is a detail View in section ona vertical plane, showing the burner and parts connected therewith. Fig.4 is a detail view in section on the horizontal plane indicated by thedotted line 4 4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction inililicated by thearrows adjacent the ends of such ine.

Having reference to the drawings, at 1 is shown a supply-pipe throughwhich the fuel which is to be fed to the lamp is led toward the latter.Inasmuch as liquid hydrocarbons for instance, kerosene will most'generally be employed in practice as fuel, I designate the pipe 1, forconvenience, the oil-supply pipe, although it'will be borne in mind thaton occasion the character, &c., of the fuel will be varied, as deemeddesirable. Ordinarily the oil passing through the pipe 1 to the lampwill be maintained under moderate pressure to insure a proper andsufficient feed thereof to the lamp. This pressure may conveniently besecured in practice by the wellknown means of maintaining a pressure ofair or gas within the supply reservoir or receptacle (not shown) withwhich the pipe 1 communicates.

2 is a coil into which the oil-supply pipe 1 is formed or with which thelatter connects. This coil is utilized in starting the lamp for thepurpose of converting the oil coming through the pipe 1 into gas orvapor, and in connection therewith below the same is provided astarting-burner21, which in practice may be filled with asbestos orother suitable absorbent material, the latter being on occasionsaturated with alcohol or the like, which is ignited for the productionof heat. For convenience of designition I term the coil 2 thestarting-coil.

3 is a portion of pipe leading from the starting-coil 2 in continuationof the oil-supply pipe and through which the fuel flows toward theburner 4.

The burner 4 is of considerable internal capacity in order that itsinterior space 41 may constitute a gas-chamber adapted to contain afairly considerable supply of acombustible mixture of gas or vapor andair. The upper end of the burner is covered by a cap 42, of wire-gauzeor its equivalent, provided with a central baflie-disk 43, which lastacts to destroy the tendency of the flame to rise centrally in the shapeof a slender tapering point. In the present embodiment of the inventionthe disk 43 is secured to the upper end of a short tube 44, having itslower endopen.

The continuation of the supply-pipe passes through the side of the shellof the burner 4 and projects into the interior space of the burner. Itthen extends upward centrally of the burner through the tube 44 and disk43, 0

being carried to some considerable height above the burner and withinthe circuit of theflame therefrom. Above the burner the pipe is bent anddoubled upon itself, as shown, one or more times to form What I term thegasgenerating coil 31, and then the pipe extends down through disk 43and tube 44 into the central space or gas-chamber 41 of theburner outthrough the side of the shell of the burner on its way to theinjection-valve 5, the stem of the latter being furnished with thehandwheel 51. for purposes of regulation.

From the discharge-opening of the injection-valve 5 the gas flows intoand through the mixing-pipe 6, which last connects with and dischargesinto the burner-shell. The mixing-pipe is herein shown in the form of acontinuous spiral having the injection-valve combined with its openouter end and the burner combined with its other or inner end. In thisparticular embodiment of the invention the mixing-pipe is formed as acontinuous coil of uninterrupted and regular curve from theinjection-valve to the burner, providing thus for the smooth, noiseless,and unchecked onward movement of the mixture of air and gas entering atthe outer end thereof. One special aim in the present connection is todo away with noise. The continuous mixing pipe is free from the metallicroaring sound, which in some instances has been experienced when a jetof gas under high pressure is directed into the open end of a shortstraight cylindrical mixing-pipe, so as to flow directly .fly-valvesurrounding the central tube 44, by

through the said mixing-pipe into an enlarged storage-chamber inconnection therewith. In the present instance there is no enlargedstorage-chamber. The mixing-pipe itself is of a diameter and lengthsufficient to give the required storage capacity. The absence of shortbends or turns in the mixing-pipe permits an undisturbed and uncheckedonward flow of the mixture of air and gas. The injectionvalve 5 ismounted upon the outer end of the mixing-pipe, as shown clearly in thedrawings. In consequence of the fact that the said end is open to theexternal air adjacent to the valve a considerable volume of air ispermitted to flow into the mixing-pipe and is carried through the latterby the moving stream of gas. The mixing-pipe is of suflicient internalcapacity to provide for the complete mixing therein of the requisiteamount of atmospheric air with the gas which is generated from the oil,as aforesaid, so as to provide for complete and perfect combustion, andalso of capacity suflicient to constitute a storage chamher or reservoirfor a suflicient quantity of the mixture of gas and air to supply theneeds of the burner and keep the flame thereof steady at all times.

The heat which is applied to the startingcoil, as by means of the flamefrom-the starting-burner 21, converts the contents of the supply-pipeinto gas or vapor and starts the flow of the latter from theinjection-valve 1-nto the mixing-pipe and the burner. After the lamp hasbeen lighted and started in operation the flame from the burner heatsthe gas-generating coil 31, which latter is exposed to the said flame,as aforesaid, and thereafter the contents of the supply-pipe arevaporized by the action of the flame of the burner itself.

The purpose in view in leading the supplypipe into the interior of theburner is to subject the contents of the same within the said interiorto the heat of the gaseous contents of the burner. ing-coil havingburned out or been extinguished the oil or other fuel will pass oncomparatively cool until it reaches the portion of pipe which passesthrough the side of the burner and into the interior space of theburner. Here it receives a preliminary warming, due to the heat of thegaseous contents of the burner, the said contents acquiring a,

very high temperature during the use of the lamp. The final heating andconversion into gas or vapor of high tension are effected within thegas-generating coil. The passage of the said gas or vapor down from thesaid coil through the portion of pipe extending within the burner on itsway to the injection-valve assists in heating the gaseous contents ofthe burner.

For the purpose of producing a pilot-burner small holes 45 45 are madethrough the central disk 43 of the cap of the burner.

46, Figs. 3 and 4, is a hand-operated buttermeans of which the flow ofthe mixture of gas and air from the interior of the burner through theannular space surrounding the tube 44 may be shut off or established atwill. The movable disk of the said valve is furnished with a projection461 for convenience of manipulation. When this valve is closed the mainflame from the burner bec mes extinguished; but the jets which continueto issue from the holes 45 45 remain lighted, constituting a pilotlight.When the valve is opened again so as to permit freeflow from the outerportion of the burner to take place, the escaping volume of mixed gasand air becomes ignited from the pilot-light.

The holes 45 45 are formed in small groups of three, as shown, or more.I have ascertained by experience and experiment that if single,separated, or detached holes are provided for the purpose the fine jetsissuing therethrough will produce an unpleasant rushing or hissing soundlike that due to the escape of steam through similar holes. I have alsofound that if the holes are formed in small groups of three or somesimilar number and arranged closely together in each group the jetsissuing from the several holes of a group will unite in the form of asolid and compact flame, more heat will be obtained for the continuedwarming of the generating-coil, the

The flame which warms the startnoise will be done away with, and thepilotlight is much less liable to accidental extinguishment.

7 is an incandescing mantle, and 71 a mantlesupport, which may beemployed when the lamp is used for lighting purposes or omitted when thelamp is employed for heating purposes.

I do not restrict myself in all respects to the precise construction andarrangement of parts which have been described and shown herein, sincevariation may be made therein in conformity with the exigencies of useand according to the views of the makers of lamps or burners embodyingthe invention.

It is contemplated that the lamp or burner shall be controlled mainly bymanipulation of the stem of the injection-valve. A complete closing ofthe said injection-valve will shut off entirely the supply of fuel andwith the result that the lamp or burner will become wholly extinguished.Ordinarily, however, the said injection-valve will not be entirelyclosed at any time; but when the use of the lamp is to be discontinuedthe valve 46 is closed, while the injection-valve is left open a verylittle bit, so as to permit a small flow of gas into and through themixing-pipe to maintain the supply for the pilot-light. The latter willkeep the gas-generating coil heated sufliciently to convert the oilreaching the same into gas or vapor, which will meet the needs of thepilot-light.

I claim as my invention 1. The improved lamp or burner comprising thecombination with the main burner havin g a valve and a centralbaflie-disk having the pilot-burner perforations, of the injectionvalve,the mixing-pipe discharging by one end thereof into the burner andhaving the injection-valve arranged to discharge into its open outerend, and the supply-pipe extending up through the top of the burner intothe flame therefrom and connecting with the injection valve,substantially as described. a

2. The improved lamp or burner comprising the combination with the mainburner having the central pilot-burner and the valve controlling theflow through the main part of said burner, of the injection-valve, themixing-pipe discharging by one end thereof into the said main burner andhaving the injectionvalve arranged to discharge into its open outer end,and the supply-pipe extending up through the top of the burner into theflame therefrom and connecting with the injection-valve, substantiallyas described.

3. The improved lamp or burner comprising the combination with the mainburner having the pilot-burner and the valve controlling the flowthrough the main part of said burner, of the injection-valve, themixing-pipe discharging by one end thereof into the said main burner andhaving the injection-valve arranged to discharge into its open end, andthe supply-pipe extending above the top of the burner into the flametherefrom and conneoting with the injection-valve, and also providedwith the starting-coil, substantially as described.

4:. The improved lamp or burner comprising the combination with the mainburner having the pilot-burner and the valve controlling the flowthrough the main part of said burner, of the injection-valve, themixing-pipe discharging by one end thereof into the said main burner andhaving the injection-valve arranged to discharge into its open outerend, and the supply-pipe provided with the starting-coil and extendinginto the'interior of the burner into contact with the gaseous-contentsthereof, and also extending through the top of the said main burner andabove the latter within the flame therefrom and connecting with theinjection-valve, substantially as described.

5. The improved hydrocarbon lamp or burner, comprising the combinationwith a body containing a gas-chamber and provided at the top of saidgas-chamber with a main burner, and also provided with a pilot-burnerconsisting of a series of groups of minute perforations, each groupappreciably removed from the other groups, of a mixing-tubecommunicating with the said gas-chamber, an injection-valve discharginginto said mixingtube, and a gas-generator located above the top of thegas-chamber and over the said pilotburner and communicating with thesaid injection-valve, substantially as described.

6. The improved burner provided with the gas-chamber, main and pilotburner outlets, a valve controlling the flow through the mainburneroutlets, an injection-valve, a continuously-curved mixing-pipedischarging by one end thereof into the said main burner and having theinjection-valve arranged to discharge into its open end, avapor-generating pipe extending above the top of the burner into theflame therefrom and connecting with the injection-valve, and astarting-coil connected with said vapor-generating pipe, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED F. DOW.

, Witnesses:

CHAS. F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A. COPELAND.

